Each generation intends on making a name for itself – Max Gradel

Cote d’Ivoire attacking midfielder Max Gradel has cautioned against comparing the different generations of the Elephants, saying that each generation of players is telling their unique story and that all players representing the national team are one family, CAFonline reports.

Gradel was speaking ahead of their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 semi-final clash against DR Congo, which is set to take place on Wednesday evening in Ebimpe.

As hosts, Cote d’Ivoire is chasing their third African title after their 1992 and 2015 triumphs, where the squad has a host of star players that contributed to the team lifting the two titles.

Asked whether any similarities could be drawn from the three different generations, the midfielder, who was also part of the 2015 squad that lifted the title, said what was important is the fact that any player who dons the national team jersey does so to represents the people of Cote d’Ivoire.

“Each generation lives in their time. The golden generation of the two previous editions was special and had its own story. This generation is also special and hard-working. We are also representing our people and want to create our own story. We are the same family, and even though we are different generations, we are writing the same story and representing the people of Cote d’Ivoire”, said Gradel.

The 2015 TotalEnergies CAF AFCON winner also emphasized the difference and growth of the competition as compared to previous years, adding that this edition was exceptionally unique.

“Every AFCON is different. This one is particular. You have to admit that it is tough. We are playing at home, which makes it a very special AFCON. We have seen the motivation of people and fans, which helps us give our best. Against Senegal, we felt the support even when they were in the lead. When you see your people singing your national anthem while you are a man down, it is incredible, and that is why we have to make them proud,” he concluded.

Kick-off at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium is at 20h00.

AFCON 2023: Super Eagles to extend AFCON record, no matter the result against Bafana

By Rasheed Adewuyi

Irrespective of the result of Wednesday’s 34^th Africa Cup of Nations semi-final clash with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa, Nigeria will extend her record of being the country with the most last-four appearances at the continental fiesta.

Since making her debut at the 1963 finals held in Ghana, where she was ejected in the group phase after 3-6 and 0-4 losses to United Arab Republic (Egypt) and Sudan respectively, Nigeria has been at the last-four of the tournament 15 times, and has never failed to win a medal each time.

The Eagles have gone ahead to win the trophy and gold on three occasions, won silver on four occasions and won the bronze medals eight times. They have never lost a third-place match.

On Wednesday, the three-time champions will make a 16^th appearance in the semi-finals, in what is their 20^th appearance at the competition. The only times Nigeria failed to make the semi-finals were in 1963, 1982, 2008 and 2021.

1982: As Cup holders, the Eagles led by Felix Owolabi started brightly by beating Ethiopia 3-0 in Benghazi, and led Algeria 1-0 in their second match before capitulating 2-1 to the Fennecs. They were manhandled 3-0 by Zambia in their third match and crashed out.

2008: The squad led by Joseph Yobo lost 0-1 to Cote d’Ivoire in their first match in Sekondi, but drew 0-0 with Mali and then defeated Benin Republic 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals. They led Ghana 1-0 before goals by Michael Essien and Junior Agogo toppled the advantage and sent the Eagles back home.

2021: Named the best team of the group phase, the Eagles led by Ahmed Musa defeated Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau in the group phase in Garoua to earn maximum points, only to lose 0-1 to Tunisia in the Round of 16.

Below is a cursory look at all the 15 previous AFCON semi-final matches that Nigeria have been involved in:

11 March 1976: The 1976 finals in Ethiopia were played on league basis – the only tournament in the competition’s history conducted in that format. There was a final round of the competition involving Nigeria, Guinea, Morocco and Egypt. After a 1-1 draw with Guinea, what could be considered as Nigeria’s own semi-final match was against eventual champions Morocco on 11^th March 1976. The ever-prolific Baba Otu Mohammed scored for Nigeria in the 57^th minute, but the Green Eagles allowed two late goals by Ahmad Faras (elected Africa Player of the Year that year) and Redouane Guezzar. After beating Egypt 3-2 three days later, with goals from Haruna Ilerika (a brace) and Mudashiru Lawal, Nigeria (3 points) finished third in the final classification behind Morocco (5 points) and Guinea (4 points) and were awarded the bronze medals.

14 March 1978: Ahmed Abdulla Nasur put Uganda ahead at the Kumasi Sports Stadium, and Martins Eyo equalized for Nigeria in the 12 minutes into the second half. But Philip Omondi scored for Uganda late on and Nigeria were condemned to the third-place match, where they were awarded a 2-0 win after Tunisia abandoned the game in the 42^nd minute in protest at Nigeria’s equalizer by Baba Otu Mohammed.

19 March 1980: Felix Owolabi scored the only goal against Morocco after only nine minutes at the National Stadium, Lagos. Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka and Ifeanyi Onyedika all tried to add to the tally to no avail. The hosts went ahead to win the trophy after beating Algeria 3-0 in the final three days later at the same venue.

14 March 1984: In what was easily the match of the tournament, Egypt Pharaohs, beaten 1-0 by Nigeria four years earlier in a group phase match in Ibadan, raced to a two-goal lead within the half-hour. The Eagles had experienced something similar in their group phase match against Malawi, before Clement Temile restored parity. In Bouake, Stephen Keshi reduced the tally from the penalty spot, following up after the ball crashed against the bar. The captain’s inch-perfect cross in the second half was converted by Bala Ali, whose headed effort saw the ball roll past Thabet El-Batal. Nigeria won 8-7 after a penalty shootout.

23 March 1988: Nigeria went into a first-half lead in Rabat when Sam Okwaraji’s miss-cued shot was diverted into the net by Abderrazak Belgherbi. Algeria equalized with only four minutes left when Rachid Maatar headed home from a corner kick. The two teams went into a marathon penalty shootout after extra time failed to produce a winner. Ademola Adeshina and Yisa Sofoluwe missed for Nigeria, and Belgherbi and Maatar also missed for Algeria. A total of 10 players on each side had taken, including goalkeepers Peter Rufai and Nasrredine Drid. They started all over again, and after Augustine Eguavoen scored, Rufai saved from Lakhdar Belloumi. Nigeria lost the final by a solitary goal to Cameroon in Casablanca four days later.

12 March 1990: The Super Eagles defeated Zambia 2-0, with excellent goals from Uche Okechukwu and Rashidi Yekini in Annaba. In the final played four days later in Algiers, Cherif Oudjani’s long-range effort sailed past Aloysius Agu for the only goal of the match to give Algeria their first continental title.

23 Jan 1992: Regional rivals Ghana and Nigeria started like a house-on-fire in Dakar, and Mutiu Adepoju headed Thompson Oliha’s cross past Edward Ansah in the 11^th minute. Abedi Pele restored parity with his own header two minutes before half time, and Ghana won it with a fierce shot into the roof of the net by Prince Polley nine minutes into the second half. Two days later, the Eagles edged Cameroon 2-1 for the bronze medals.

6 April 1994: Michel Bassole headed Cote d’Ivoire in front after 19 minutes, but Benedict Iroha equalized after a mesmerizing one-two with Jay Jay Okocha at the Stade El Menzah. Bassole scored again, and Nigeria also scored (through Rashidi Yekini) to make it 2-2 before half time. Both teams threw the kitchen sink at themselves in the second half and during extra time, but there were no more goals and it ended in a penalty shootout. Samson Siasia lost his kick but Bassole and Amani Yao also fluffed for the Elephants. Four days later at the same venue, Nigeria defeated Zambia 2-1 to win the trophy and gold.

10 Feb 2000: Banned from the 1998 finals for their failure to turn up in South Africa in 1996 to defend their title, Nigeria were brimming with vitality as co-hosts with Ghana in 2000. In the semi-finals, Coach Johannes Bonfrere unscrewed the plans of the Bafana Bafana by playing Tijani Babangida from the left side, and he caused them all sorts of problems besides scoring two first-half goals at the National Stadium, Lagos. The Eagles lost the Final to Cameroon three days later after a penalty shootout at the same venue.

7 Feb 2002: At the Stade Modibo Keita, Bouba Diop put Senegal ahead early in the second half. Wilson Oruma failed to convert a penalty kick, but Julius Aghahowa made it 1-1 two minutes from the end. In first-half of extra time, Lassina Diao got the winner for Senegal, and the Eagles were condemned to third place. They defeated hosts Mali 1-0 in the city of Mopti two days later to win the bronze.

11 Feb 2004: The November 7 Stadium in Rades was a cauldron of noise and passion as the Eagles, who had eliminated Cup holders Cameroon in the quarter-finals, took the kick-off against the host nation. Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu made life difficult for the Khaled Badri-led defence but the first half produced no goal. There were 60,000 spectators whose whistling rang out each time more than that of Beninoise referee Bonaventure Codjia Coffi. Nigeria went ahead when Okocha scored from the spot after Kanu was double-teamed in the box. Badra levelled from the spot as well eight minutes from time, after Seyi Olofinjana tripped Ziad Jaziri. In the penalty shootout, Peter Odemwingie lost his kick and Nigeria were sent to the third-place match after Karim Haggui beat Vincent Enyeama. The Eagles won the third-place match by beating Mali 2-1 back in Monastir three days later, with goals by Okocha (who would emerge the tournament’s Most Valuable Player) and Odemwingie.

7 Feb 2006: Nigeria, who had again eliminated the Cup holders (Tunisia) in the quarter-finals, survived a torrid first half at the Alexandria Stadium. In the second half, Joseph Enarkharire mis-timed his leap from a high ball and Didier Drogba sneaked in to beat Enyeama from close range. It was the only goal of the game, and the Eagles would beat Senegal by a solitary goal from Garba Lawal in Cairo to pick up the bronze medals.

28 Jan 2010: Asamoah Gyan scored the only goal of the match from a corner kick at the Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda. It meant the Eagles had to go back to Benguela, where they prosecuted their group phase matches, for the third- place match against Algeria, which they won with a goal by Obinna Nsofor after a sublime pass by Nwankwo Kanu.

6 Feb 2013: Nigeria had sensationally eliminated in-form Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter-finals, and arrived at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban as clear favourites against Mali. Elderson Echiejile, Brown Ideye and Emmanuel Emenike scored before half time, and Ahmed Musa added a fourth on the hour. The Eagles went ahead to defeat Burkina Faso in the final played four days later at Soccercity, the only goal scored by Sunday Mba.

14 July 2019: Nigeria had eliminated Cup holders Cameroon in the Round of 16, and then kicked out South Africa (who eliminated hosts Egypt) in the quarter-finals. Five minutes from recess against Algeria at the Cairo International Stadium, William Ekong inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net. Odion Ighalo, who would emerge tournament top scorer, scored from the spot to level in the second half. But the Fennecs flew into the Final after Riyad Mahrez’ vicious shot from a free-kick deep in added time sailed past Daniel Akpeyi. Ighalo scored the only goal of the third-place match against Tunisia three days later to give Nigeria the bronze medals.  

Facts and figures

Teboho Mokoena of South Africa celebrates a goal during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations match between Morocco and South Africa. Credit: cafonline

• Nigeria will play South Africa in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday in Cote d’Ivoire, Cafonline reports.

• Below are the facts and figures for the upcoming match:

• This will be the fourth encounter between Nigeria and South Africa at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles winning the previous three by an aggregate score of 8-1.

• Nigeria and South Africa last met in the semi-finals at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in 2000, with the Super Eagles running out 2-0 winners thanks to a brace from Tijani Babangida.

• Nigeria is in a record 15^th semi-final at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations. At the same time, they’ve only progressed from one of their last six at this stage, winning the South Africa competition in 2013.

• Nigeria have won their last four AFCON games without conceding; they could keep five consecutive clean sheets in the competition for the first time since March 1982 (W4 D1), while they’ve never done so when winning all five games.

• South Africa is playing in their fourth semi-final at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations and their first since 2000 when they were eliminated by opponents Nigeria (2-0).

• South Africa has kept four consecutive clean sheets at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time (W2 D2), as many as recorded in their previous 21 matches combined.

• Nigeria has just three different goal scorers (excluding own goals) at AFCON 2023 (Lookman, Osimhen, and Troost-Ekong), their fewest in a single edition since 2008 (2, Yakubu and Mikel).

• South Africa have had six shots following a high turnover at AFCON 2023, only Egypt have had more (7), while only Morocco (9) have had more direct attacks than the Bafana Bafana (8) in the competition this year.

• Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has only scored one goal despite attempting the most shots (19) at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations – a shot conversion rate of 5.3%, with an expected goals tally of 3.09; he’s underperforming his xG by a more significant margin than any other player (-2.09).

• Nigeria have the highest expected goals (8.59) tally and the most big chances (18) at AFCON 2023, with all six of their goals coming inside the box – only Côte d’Ivoire (46) have had more shots from inside the box than the Super Eagles (44).

• Themba Zwane has been directly involved in 50% (3/6) of South Africa’s goals at AFCON 2023 (two goals, one assist), while he could become the first Bafana Bafana player to score three goals in a single edition of AFCON since Shaun Bartlett in 2000 (5).

Facts and figures

• Hosts Cote d’Ivoire will play DR Congo in Wednesday’s TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals in Abidjan. 

• Below are the facts and figures for the game:

• Côte d’Ivoire has faced DR Congo five times previously at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (W2 D2 L1), their first encounter since a 2-2 draw in the 2017 group stages.

• In the knockout phase, the only previous meeting between Côte d’Ivoire and DR Congo was at the semi-final stage in 2015; the Elephants won 3-1 and the trophy that year.

• This is Côte d’Ivoire’s 10^th appearance in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, becoming the fifth nation to play in as many as 10 semi-finals, along with Nigeria (15, inc. this year), Egypt (13), Ghana (12) and Cameroon (10). It’s their first since 2015 when they beat this year’s opponents DR Congo 3-1 under Herve Renard.

• DR Congo have reached their sixth CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-final – they have won the previous two against the hosts (v Ethiopia in 1968 and Egypt in 1974) but have never won a semi-final match when not playing that year’s hosts, losing all three (1972, 1998 and 2015).

• On the last three occasions the CAF Africa Cup of Nations host nation has reached the semi-final, they have been eliminated without scoring a goal: Ghana in 2008 (lost 1-0 to Cameroon), Equatorial Guinea in 2015 (lost 3-0 to Ghana) and Cameroon in 2021 (drew 0-0 with Egypt and lost 3-1 on pens). The last host to reach the final was Egypt in 2006.

• Côte d’Ivoire reached the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-final thanks to a 2-1 win over Mali, which saw them score in the 90^th and 120^th minutes to win. They were only the second team to score in the 90^th and 120^th minutes in the exact AFCON match, along with Morocco vs Algeria in 2004.

• Should DR Congo reach the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations final, it would be their first final since 1974. This would represent the most significant gap between a nation reaching AFCON finals, with Tunisia currently having the most extended wait between 1965 and 1996.

• Côte d’Ivoire could become the first nation to reach the final of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations despite suffering a four-goal defeat earlier in the tournament (lost 4-0 to Equatorial Guinea) since Nigeria in 1990, who lost 5-1 to Algeria in the group stages before facing them again in the final that year, losing 1-0.

• 20-year-old Oumar Diakité scored Côte d’Ivoire’s 120th-minute winner against Mali in the 2023 AFCON quarter-final, becoming the Elephants’ youngest AFCON scorer since Tchiressoua Guel in 1994 (18 years, 31 days) and only the second player in the last 11 editions under the age of 21 to score a winning goal in the knockout stages, along with Dango Ouattara for Burkina Faso vs Tunisia in 2022 (quarter-final).

• Only Angola’s Fredy (11) has created more chances at the 2023 CAF Africa Cup of Nations than DR Congo’s Arthur Masuaku (10), with Masuaku playing more passes into the opposition box than any other player (53). Despite this, he has yet to register an assist.

• Yoane Wissa has scored two of DR Congo’s five goals at this year’s CAF Africa Cup of Nations, scoring against Zambia and Guinea. Only four players have ever netted in three separate games at a single AFCON for the Leopards: Mayanga Maku in 1972 (3), Ndaye Mulamba in 1974 (5), Jerry Tondelua in 1998 (3) and Junior Kabananga in 2017 (3).

Nigeria striker cleared to face Bafana Bafana on Wednesday in AFCON semifinal clash

By Ed Emeanua

Multiple Super Eagles sources claim that Super Eagles bomber Victor Osimhen is now expected in Bouake after being cleared for an abdominal discomfort problem by the Nigeria medical team.

The Super Eagle’s medical team has reportedly cleared the Nigeria striker for the clash against Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Wednesday in Bouake, Cote d’Ivoire.

Following a reported abdominal discomfort,  Osimhen was not in the Nigerian entourage to Bouake, the venue of the semifinal clash with South Africa on Monday.

Following his most recent illness, he was immediately declared doubtful for the epic AFCON 2023 semifinal clash with South Africa’s national football side.

It was reported that the Partenopei striker would be reassessed on Tuesday morning and, if deemed fit to play, would be allowed to join other Nigerian squad members who arrived safely in Bouake on Monday.

Osimhen started all of the Super Eagles’ games in Cote d’Ivoire, scoring just a goal and notching an assist to his credit.

Carefree, innovative, and ambitious, Simon Adingra and Ouma Diakité are the next generation of Ivorian football

Emerse Fae, Elephants coach Photo Credit: CAFONLINE

Carefree, innovative, ambitious, and above all, all full of talent. Simon Adingra and Ouma Diakité represent the next generation of Ivorian football, CAFONLINE reports.

Aged 22 and 20, respectively, the two young men experienced winding paths before being the protagonists of the Elephants’ qualification for the semi-final of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023.

Standing 1.75 meters tall, Simon Adingra had a difficult journey before becoming a footballer.

“I’ve had some difficult times, and that has shaped my character. I remember the day an “agent” came to my house because he wanted to recruit me to go to an academy in Benin. We went to this country with nine other boys, except that the academy in question did not exist. The crook left with our money, and we found ourselves on the street. I had to take on odd jobs to meet my needs,” he says.

“When I think of everything I have experienced, I must give the best of myself for my country, my family, especially to honor my father, who is no longer with us and has always encouraged us to go this direction,” he explains.

Entering the game in the 86th minute against Mali, the right winger conditioned himself to be decisive and alert.

“I told myself that I would have an opportunity and that it was up to me to seize it. And yes, I am lucky. I can tell you that it was, as an individual, one of my biggest emotions as a footballer. My heart was beating a thousand miles an hour,” admitted Adingra.

Another rising star is, of course, Oumar Diakité. Like Adingra, number 14 of the Elephants came into play during the second period of the match against the Eagles.

Active on the left flank, the native of Bingerville wasted no time getting noticed. First, by receiving a yellow card, then by scoring the winning goal on a play initiated by Simon Adingra before being unfortunately sent off.

“My joy was so great that I forgot I had a yellow card. My mistake. I couldn’t play the half, but I don’t think it will hurt my team because we have the depth, and even if I’m not there, we’ll be able to do the job,” said Diakité.

Diakité imagined for a long time to be the Cote d’Ivoire hero and even dreamt of it.

“It’s an inexplicable feeling. During my training at ASEC, I began training as an engineer. Even though I was thriving in football, I needed to secure my life in a certain way. Because everything moves very quickly in this world.”

On Wednesday, 07 February, the Elephants return to the majestic Alassane Ouattara Olympic stadium in Ebimpé, where their African dream was dented by a 4-0 thrashing handed by Equatorial Guinea 4-0.

They hope to erase that memory when facing DR Congo in a 20h00 GMT kick-off.

As Bafana Bafana makes TotalEnergies CAF AFCON progress after years of lack of self-belief

As South Africa aims to even the score against the Super Eagles